Napier: A fine show against the Indians in the three-day tie here earned Central Districts pacer Michael Mason on Sunday a place in New Zealandís 12-member squad for the first Test starting in Wellington on Thursday.

Mason, who grabbed three wickets in Indiaís first innings, will have a toss-up for the third seamerís slot in the final XI with Jacob Oram, who pulled out of the three-day game because of a groin strain.

Oramís ODI experience may, however, tilt the scales in his favour. Either of them will serve as back-up to Shane Bond and Daryll Tuffey. Oram, 24, who has represented the country in 25 one-day Internationals, is still looking to play his first Test.

Allrounder Chris Cairns is to undergo keyhole surgery on his right knee and will miss the forthcoming home Test series against India, reports from Napier add.

New Zealand Cricket medical co-ordinator Warren Frost said in a statement on Sunday that Cairns would not be available for the first Test in Wellington starting December 12 nor the second in Hamilton on December 19.

But Frost said he should be fit again for the one-day series which starts in Auckland on December 26.

Cairns, who also had surgery on his right knee in March, has been playing for his province Canterbury for the last two weeks . The latest surgery, to remove a piece of cartilage, is to take place on Tuesday.